Month: May 2020

First look and unboxing. The TCL 10L. #TCL10L

TCL recently announced a slew of devices and we have one of them here that will offer good value and new features for money with a quad camera set up on the rear that looks well and moves apart from the trend like what Samsung and Huawei offer with the square hump. A full review of this device will be up soon but we have unboxed and took a look at what is inside so you can check it out below and if any questions please feel free to ask and we will answer in our review..

Immerse yourself in an upscale entertaining experience via the NXTVISION 6.53-inch FHD+ Dotch™ display with a 91 percent screen-to-body ratio. Featuring a dedicated display engine, overall visuals will be enhanced in real-time to produce images that incorporate adjusted brightness, greater contrast and true-to-life details. With comfort also in mind, the TCL 10L implements features such as Adaptive Tone, Reading Mode and Eye Comfort mode to assist with preventing eye-strain. 

 

To keep fun and games going, the TCL 10L provides you the chance to connect up to 4 devices (headphones or speakers) through the integrated Super Bluetooth Multi-streaming audio solution.

THE CAMERA FOR EVERY MOMENT

NXTVISION CAMERA

With the TCL 10L, rest assured that the magic of the moment will never be lost.

Superior quality images will set your creations apart via the NXTVISION AI powered 48MP quad-rear cameras, 16MP selfie camera and 4K recording functionality. From producing brighter images in extreme low light conditions, to packing more into the shot with the flagship-level 118° super wide-angle cam, the TCL 10L brings versatility to the game with a macro lens for exquisite micro world shots as close as 3.7cm and natural artistic bokeh portraits.

If you’re wanting to try your hand at video production, keep in mind that you will be able to film great, completely stable 4K videos, blending an intelligent low-light algorithm and a fun wide-angle for stop motion videos.

 

INTELLIGENT CAREFREE LIVING

A SMOOTH PERFORMANCE 

Looking for a smooth performance that doesn’t forgo efficiency? The TCL 10L combines 6GB RAM with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™665 processor that comes with an AI engine and a long lasting 4000mAh battery, together these deliver lower power consumption so that you can concentrate on running various tasks all day.

 

EASY & SECURE ACCESS

Enjoy an intuitive user experience with the dedicated Google Assistant button. From launching the camera, setting reminders or receiving smart suggestions, the 

Google Assistant helps with everyday tasks. TCL 10L users will enjoy the latest Android versions with at least one guaranteed major OS upgrade, and also receive the latest security updates every 60 days. Combine this with the convenient and secured face unlock and fingerprint sensor, the TCL 10L keeps things safe & secure. 

 

AESTHETICS DESIGN

Comprised of an attractive holographic finish that shines iridescently in a tide of luminescence, the sleek 3D backing grants you a premium in-hand feel at an affordable price.

 

The TCL 10L is available now, starting from £399 and comes in the nature-inspired versions of Arctic White & Mariana Blue,both the 10Pro and 10L will be available to purchase in the UK in the first week of June and in Ireland from the last week of June.

Review – The Creative Sound Blaster G3 USB-C DAC. #Creative #Gaming #Tech

The Creative Sound Blaster G3 is a Portable External Console Gaming USB-C DAC Amp for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac, This enhanced gaming audio experience has voice chat balance capability, a customizable EQ preset with custom-tuned Footsteps Enhancer, and on-the-fly audio adjustments without having to exit your game’s screen.

 

The first impression of the unit was the feel of the unit, the plastic seems flimsy, with the buttons/switches not as comfortable as I would expect for the well-know Singapore-based Creative, Technology company.  The inclusion of the USB Type-C to Type-A Converter reinforced the UpToDate technology with the fibre optic cable. 

 

Package contents,

  • Sound Blaster G3
  • Optical Cable (1m / 3.28 ft)
  • USB Type-C to Type-A Converter
  • Quick Start Leaflet
  • Warranty Leaflet

Compatibility.

 

Setup:

The basic setup was easy in terms of the units was designed for use with gaming consoles with No software required, no drivers just plug and play. When using the advance features via the Creative app, this had challenges in the connection to the unit, the app had to removed from the android phone and reinstalled as did not pair immediately to the Samsung S10 phone. After reinstalling this worked ok. The setup was done via a PS4 Slim which does not have an optical port (The standard Ps4 and PS4 does), this was easily connected directly to the optical port on the TV and worked. 

Overall.

There were a few niggles in the build quality the app setup and the length of the cable option.  On the positive, once the set up was done there is an abundance of features tailored to specific games in the app, which can be adjusted from your phone and saved on the unit or via the app. The audio difference was noticeable in terms of isolation out specific sounds to your colleagues on the games or enhanced sound which often go unnoticed on the game. This is a real gamer paradise in terms of sounds. 

Available from https://en.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-g3

Review – The Plantronics Voyager 3240. #Plantronics #Voyager3240 #Tech

Plantronics is a Brand Synonymous with call centres throughout the world in small office and reception areas and those that use telecoms equipment. The Plantronics Voyager 3240 is geared towards the office user rather than the full-time receptionist allowing connection to a variety of phones/laptops and telecoms equipment with an abundant of voice prompts to ensure clarity. This is suitable for those on the go in a busy environment, drivers, office staff that have to make/received allot of calls and require handsfree,

The unit comes with only 1 headset which allows you to be aware of your surroundings, most of us will be aware of people with 2 earphones shouting on a call unaware a full office can hear them unaware of their surroundings.

 

Main features

  • In-ear design provides a wearing style that’s easy to put on or take off
  • Precision tuned triple-mic with enhanced DSP delivers superior noise cancellation
  • Smart sensors answer calls by simply putting on the headset
  • Dynamic mute alert senses and alerts you when you begin to speak while muted
  • Up to 98 feet/30 meters of wireless range from supported Class 1 Bluetooth devices
  • Portable charging case provides up to 10 hours of additional talk time

 

Specifications:

  •         Listen/talk time Up to 6 hours plus up to 10 extra hours with charging case
  •         (available in select bundles); up to 7 days standby time
  •         Range Up to 98 feet (30 meters) with Class 1 Bluetooth enabled device
  •         Audio performance Triple-mic DSP noise-cancelling technology, mobile wideband
  •         compatibility up to 6,800 Hz; echo cancellation, proprietary DSP,
  •         A2DP, mobile wideband compatibility (HD Voice-enabled)
  •         Hearing protection SoundGuard®: Sound leveling for listening comfort and acoustic
  •         limiting for protection against sounds above 118 dBA
  •         Headset controls Call answer/ignore/end/redial, mute, volume +/-, smartphone
  •         VPA access, power on/off
  •         Weight 9 g/0.019 lbs
  •         Wireless frequency Bluetooth v4.1
  •         Smart sensors answer calls by simply putting on the headset. Automatically
  •         transfer calls between mobile phone and headset based on
  •         wearing state (enabled using Plantronics Hub mobile app)
  •         Multipoint technology Stay connected to two phones and answer calls from either one
  •         Streams audio Stream music, driving directions, podcasts, and more with
  •         Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
  •         Voice alerts Enhanced voice alerts announce talk-time, mute, connection
  •         status, and more
  •         Firmware Update firmware and change language settings using Plantronics
  •         Hub for iOS/Android

 Connection:

The connection is standard to most phones using the Bluetooth option to your phone/laptop with no issues found. The NFC option works easier and faster.

Charging:

The unit comes with a micro USB cable which is disappointing in terms on modern phones for the last number of years have migrated to USB C resulting in another cable to be carried around, it takes approx. 90 minutes to fully charge the headset.  The status of the charging can be seen/heard via voice prompt/headset LEDs / phone app,

 Charge case:

The charging ( open style ) case does as it states, charges the headset but as a design having the charging connection on the bottom leaves it prone to liquid ingress when placed on a wet surface, the case gives minimum protection when carried from place to place, ( whereas the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100 True Wireless Bluetooth Headset, aimed at music lovers case is ideal offering protection and charges the headset )  the belt type clip again leaves allot to be desired with little practical use. The charging case gives 10 additional hours on a single charge, giving you up to 16 hours of combined talk time between a fully charged headset and charging case.

 

 The app – Plantronics Hub

The Plantronics Hub has a variety of useful features but again is different to the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100 Blackbeat app. The manufactures appear to have 2 completely different designs and technology which would be great to have one standardised one. The app gives a clear view of the battery time left, allow you to locate a misplaced headset, customise calls, mute calls, auto-answer, headset sensors and a variety of other features to personalise your experience. This also has a reset option in case a mistake is made during setup. The app has got 4.3 out of 5 on the play store out of near 30,000 downloads which is good, the app worked as required and can’t fault.

 Voice alerts:

The unit has a variety of useful voice alerts

Voice alerts list

Following is a list of common voice alerts. You can use Plantronics Hub to customise some of

these alerts. Download Plantronics Hub at plantronics.com/software

  • “Answering call”
  • “Battery low”
  • “Redialling last outgoing call”
  • “Incoming call”
  • “Mute on/mute off”
  • “No phone is connected”
  • “Pairing”
  • “Pairing incomplete, restart headset”
  • “Pairing successful”
  • “Power on/off”
  • “Phone X connected/disconnected” (my personal favourite feature)
  • “Recharge headset”
  • “Smart sensors on/off”
  • “Battery high”
  • “Volume maximum/minimum”

 

Call quality:

The Plantronics Voyager 3240 as expected has excellent call quality, quoting noise-cancelling technology which is far superior to most headset tested in the last year.  This does not mask out all sound from the call as on tests walking close to a radio / TV, the caller can hear the sounds albeit lower than many other brands. When used to listen to Spotify / Google play music. / Amazon music quality is average been distracted with 1 earpiece and the highs and lows not as pronounced, again this is not designed for recreational music listening but will work perfectly on your voice frequencies.

 

Conclusion:

Plantronics is a great brand with quality products, with my favourites being able to connect numerous phones/laptops at the same time, and able to make or receive a call from any device. This is a feature not seen on many earphones. This Bluetooth multipoint technology enables you to pair and connect your headset to two different Bluetooth audio devices at once with audio prompts to advise what is connected.  The brand as an office technology has a compatibility guide which you expect to ensure if the connection to a specialised device the guesswork is taken out of the interface connection, this may include Desk phone, Softphone, Mobile Bluetooth, Mobile corded Gaming and Landline.

The headset when sitting on a desk can easily be seen to connect to a phone when lifted to your ear but states not connected ensuring when you decide to take a call you can use the headset or traditional holding your head to the phone. Over the years I have had numerous earphones connected via Bluetooth only to find the audio was via the earphone, not the phones when required.

Overall the unit is a lightweight, solid build, comfortable to wear for hours,  and allows you to be aware of your surroundings with superior call quality. There are a few niggles in the charger style given limited protection and micro USB charger while minor in the overall scheme.  The multipoint technology allowing multiple units connected at the same time is a must for those that carry 2 phones or take skype/teams calls from laptops etc.  The Plantronics Voyager 3240 has an abundance of features and personalise options in the app given a great experience overall.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plantronics-3240-Mono-Bluetooth%C2%AE-Portable-Charging-Voyager-3240/dp/B072KH8F9L/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2DUURS77EA6EJ&keywords=plantronics+voyager+3240&qid=1581770535&sprefix=Plantronics+Voyager+3240%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-4

Noel O’Grady, Rewriting the rulebook: Learnings from how the data centre industry has reacted to COVID-19

Noel O’Grady, Director of Irish operations at business risk and resilience consultancy Sungard AS.

The data centre industry is arguably facing its largest ever crisis with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In-house teams have had to quickly build out their ability to support remote workers on a scale never seen before. Commercial providers have had to tighten access to facilities globally, decide which staff are essential to keep onsite, and reach for their pandemic contingency plans – if these even existed. 

Elsewhere, data centre managers have had to embark on mass disinfection of premises and assess access following both staff and visitors testing positive for the virus. 

The last few months have been a huge learning curve for many, and here are three key lessons we have learned.

Noel O’Grady, Sungard Availability Services
Photo Iain White / Fennell Photography

 

Lesson 1: Be prepared to scale quickly for remote working demands

As our worlds of work and play shifted from office blocks and business parks to living rooms and kitchen tables across the globe, society has been highly dependent on internet services and supporting equipment working as expected.  

 

Infrastructure teams with responsibility for making sure organisations and consumers stay online have worked hard to expand network bandwidth and computing muscle in data centres. The most frequent bottleneck created in many cases has stemmed from the overnight enablement of vast remote workforces. Many company networks simply weren’t set up to meet demand at such scale. 

 

Organisations need to provide staff with private, secure corporate network access from home. VPN capacity has had to ramp up and conversations about readying the infrastructure to support it have had to happen quickly. Companies must now prepare to ensure employees can access a company network from their own machines at home too – there will have been many cases where people hadn’t taken work equipment home with them, and IT were unable to access buildings to get it to them.  

Technical understanding of the expanded capacity to support remote application access became a boardroom issue overnight as well. This will only be a good thing for companies moving forward. Senior executives will have no choice to overlook infrastructure. They will have to understand and monitor it like never before. 

Lesson 2: Pre-define ‘essential’ staff

Evaluation of who was ‘essential’ was another thing organisations had to determine quickly, and this expanded to the data centre industry. Essential workers had to be divided up. Some kept onsite and others sent home to become reserves. There had to be no risk of cross-contamination between them.  

Some senior-level facility and site managers were asked to work from home as well, as they possessed knowledge and experience covering multiple types of lower-level employees, such as line engineers, technicians and operations staff. 

The outcome of this crisis will be that data centre organisations should now formally plan and document who is essential to keep onsite during such a state of emergency, and who are the backups that should remain at home. This should be clearly communicated at regular intervals, with tests run to confirm the process works as expected.

 

Lesson 3: Disinfect premises post-positive infection reports and have strict access rules

There have been some international reports of staff and visitors who have set foot in data centres testing positive for COVID-19 at a later date. In response, the affected facilities have had to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by a specialist cleaning contractor. Data centre operators will now have to be crystal clear about the measures they will take in the event of such an incident and what they will do if a member of staff or a visitor falls ill whilst onsite. 

In order to maintain effective social distancing, some facilities have made all non-essential staff work from home on a mandatory basis. Clients are also being actively discouraged from visiting and encouraged to use engineers to complete physical tasks wherever possible. 

All deliveries and visitors should be handled by isolated security staff following very specific guidelines. Employee health has to remain the priority and having these measures in place requires a high level of adaptability on behalf of workers, so the businesses and the industry as a whole needs to be very clear.

If a data centre facility does have to be evacuated temporarily, whether it can stay online without staffing depends very much on its design, and is something that must be accounted for in planning and operations. Those with a low level of redundancy face obvious risks if left unmanned.

Rewriting the rule book

Data centre operators around the world have been forced to make big adjustments in light of COVID-19, with some of the areas mentioned above likely to become a necessary standard post-crisis. 

Historically, most business continuity plans for data centres were based on local scenarios, where ‘acts of God’ wreaked havoc on one place. Rarely had many considered that one place being the entire planet. 

 

This pandemic has shown us the speed of disease spread and highlighted the importance of a quick response. For the most part, data centres across the world are still functional, with our increasingly digital infrastructure showing a considerable level of resilience. However, it remains to be seen which contingencies will become the new norm and which won’t result in any permanent changes. 

World cities turn their streets over to cyclists as Cowboy e-bike sales surge by 230%. #ebike #Cowboy #Cycling

Cowboy, the company with a vision to transform urban mobility, has today announced record sales with a growth of 230 percent from January – April 2020 compared to the same time period last year. In addition, the company hit a major milestone as it reached one million kilometres covered in April, an increase of 800 percent year on year. Cowboy had predicted that the urban mobility sector would face a shake up in the years to come, however the pandemic has accelerated this as people seek faster, healthier and greener ways of travel.

In an unfortunate time when many start-ups are facing challenges, Cowboy has seen April sales increase by an impressive 40% over March despite the lockdown restrictions affecting its core markets.  The growth demonstrates a shift in consumer demand as the requirement for a safer means of transport becomes a higher priority for global city dwellers.

Recent announcements from London, Berlin, Paris, New York and Milan to increase and dedicate space for cyclists and pedestrians are reinforcing Cowboy’s view that these measures will drive a more permanent change that will extend beyond a post COVID-19 pandemic world.

Cowboy has also noticed significant changes in usage patterns over the past few weeks. In Germany alone Cowboy has seen a surge of 100% in its active users as they utilise the smart electric bike as a way to combat the closure of public transport methods. Across all countries the number of kilometres travelled has increased by an impressive 100 percent when compared to pre COVID to reach one million kilometres covered in April. The biggest monthly total to date for the company and a staggering 800 percent increase year on year.

Users have extended their Cowboy use for more than just the daily commute as the average journey increased from 5km in March prior to lockdown restrictions to 6km in April. In February, 50 percent of our riders were using their bike around offices standard opening and closing times ( 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM ). This has shrunk to 28 percent with peak time now being 15:00 proving that the electric bike is now more than just a means to getting to work but also being used for shopping and exercise.

Adrien Roose, CEO, Cowboy said: “We’ve always felt that urban mobility was due a transformation as we look at ways of cutting down on stress, traffic and pollution. However, the pandemic has accelerated this evolution by forcing us all to rethink elements of our life from how we work, shop and move around. More than ever, we exist to make it a permanent change rather than temporary.”

Sony’s new A8 4K HDR OLED TVs on sale now. #Sony #TV #4K

Sony has today announced the availability of its newest A8 4K HDR OLED televisions in Europe. Boasting an array of Sony’s cutting-edge innovations in picture processing and sound, the A8 delivers the acclaimed quality of the Japanese manufacturer.

The X1™ Ultimate Picture Processor is at the heart of the A8’s prowess. It precisely analyses image data to bring out the intense contrast of OLED with pure blacks, peak brightness and truly realistic pictures. The TV also features Pixel Contrast Booster, which enhances colour and contrast in bright areas so you can enjoy scenes full of lifelike shades and hues, more depth, fine texture and the pure black contrast that only OLED can deliver.

The A8 TVs continue Sony’s legacy of delivering a truly immersive audio-visual experience with the incorporation of Acoustic Surface Audio, which turns the TV screen into a speaker. An innovative actuator behind the screen vibrates discreetly to create sound so what you hear comes from the place in the scene where the action is happening – dialogue from characters or engine noise from a car. This ties-in with Sony’s super-slim one slate design where the screen meets the edge of the TV, immersing you in the picture without distraction. For extra punch, two subwoofers are discretely integrated into the rear of the TV to create more dynamic, bass-heavy sound – ideal for action movies and music.

The new A8 TVs continue to deliver the creator’s intent with Netflix Calibrated Mode. This mode was specially developed to enjoy Netflix originals and reproduce the same picture quality on a TV as on a studio evaluation master. With Netflix Calibrated Mode, the creator’s vision and intent is faithfully preserved. Furthermore, the A8 is an IMAX® Enhanced™ product, ready to meet high-quality colour, contrast, clarity and sound, creating a fully immersive at-home entertainment experience that takes full advantage of IMAX Enhanced content.

Sony’s A8 4K HDR OLED TVs feature Ambient Optimization, a new technology that optimises picture and sound quality in any customer environment. It will automatically adjust the picture brightness to the ambient light in the room, boosting the brightness in bright rooms and reducing in dark rooms for the perfect view. It even detects objects in the room, such as curtains and furniture that can absorb or reflect sound, fine-tuning the acoustics so your sound isn’t compromised.

The A8 line-up features Android TV™ with the Google Assistant , Google Play Store and Chromecast built-in, which offers users easy access to content, services and devices via its extensive platform. Sony’s original user interface menus and voice controls are also enhanced for better daily use. With the Google Assistant  and Amazon Alexa  enabled devices, you may cast and control videos from a range of apps, such as Netflix or YouTube with Google Home or change the channel or volume with Amazon Alexa enabled devices. Apple® AirPlay® 2 users can stream movies, music, games and photos to their television right from their iPhone®, iPad® or Mac®. The Apple HomeKit™ technology provides an easy, secure way for users to control their television from their iPhone®, iPad® or Mac® .

 

Pricing and availability

Model UK pricing Irish pricing
KD55A8 £1799

€2149
KD65A8 £2799 €3349

For more information please visit: www.sony.co.uk

 

Sony A8 4K OLED TV: Key features

Screen sizes: 65” and 55”

  • Features Picture Processor X1™ Ultimate, providing the ultimate 4K HDR viewing experience with the following technologies: Object-based Super Resolution, Object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping™ 4K HDR and Dual database processing
  • Features Pixel Contrast Booster, with over eight million self-illuminating pixels and Sony-original panel controller for OLED that brings a significantly enriched visual experience with unprecedented black, authentic colour and a wide viewing angle
  • X-Motion Clarity for OLED: This revolutionary, highly-acclaimed best-in-class technology from Sony will now be available for OLED, refining action on the screen in real time to make it brighter, clearer and more fluid than ever before for an unparalleled sports viewing experience
  • Two subwoofers improve and enhance Acoustic Surface Audio™
  • Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos™ compatible
  • New Ambient Optimization optimises picture and sound quality in any customer environment. It will automatically adjust the picture brightness to the ambient light in the room, boosting the brightness in bright rooms and reducing in dark rooms for the perfect view
  • TRILUMINOS™ Display reproduces the subtle nuances of colour, light and gradation from video lens to living room
  • Works with Smart Speakers, including Google Home and Amazon Alexa enabled devices
  • Easy connectivity to most devices, including Apple® AirPlay® 2, HomeKit™
  • Quick access to an array of content and services with Android TV
  • Netflix Calibrated Mode ensures cinematic fidelity for the viewing experience on Netflix. Developed by Sony picture quality engineers in collaboration with Netflix colour scientists, Netflix Calibrated Mode delivers picture quality approaching that of a master monitor used for standard reference in motion picture production studios.
  • An IMAX® Enhanced™ product, ready to meet high-quality colour, contrast, clarity and sound. Take comfort in knowing you’ll be enjoying a fully immersive at-home entertainment experience on this TV that takes full advantage of IMAX Enhanced content.
  • Custom Mode, along with Sony’s other calibrated viewing modes, provides various viewing options to suit customers’ tastes while faithfully preserving the creator’s intent

Sony announces the WF-SP800N and WF-XB700 true wireless earbuds. #Sony #TrueWireless

Sony has just announced the WF-SP800N truly wireless headphones – providing the perfect hassle-free headphones to keep up with an active lifestyle. Sony also recently announced the WF-XB700 further strengthening its truly wireless line up.

 

Say yes to music and no to sweat with WF-SP800N

Designed for an active lifestyle with an IP55 rating that means splashes, sweat and dust won’t stop these water-resistant headphones or your workout. You can even wash them after a tough training session.

The soft-cushioned arc supporter and three-dimensional curved design ensure a secure, comfortable fit. Whether you’re running for a train or on the treadmill, these headphones won’t move.

Plus, you won’t be slowed down with limited battery power. The compact charging case not only protects your WF-SP800N, it also lets you power up on the go. Holding a single further full charge, the case lets you enjoy up to 18 hours of music playback with noise cancelling switched on and up to 26 hours without]. If you’re in a hurry, 10 minutes quick charging gives you up to 60 minutes of music playback. Thanks to a Bluetooth chip borrowed from the award-winning WF-1000XM3 truly wireless headphones coupled with an optimised antenna design, the earphones ensure a stable connection with outstanding listening.

 

Boost the beat

The WF-SP800N features the latest noise cancelling technology to block out distractions like the sounds of the street or those in the gym, so it’s just you and the beat.

Focus on the beat of your music to help enhance your performance with EXTRA BASS™ and let the headphones deliver powerful, punchy, low-end sound, giving you the drive to power through your work or workout. With the free of charge “Sony | Headphones Connect” companion app, you can customise your sound experience to your desired taste. The equalizer feature on the app enables you to customise the sound level to suit your music and activities. Whether creating a relaxed listening experiences on your commute to work or boosting bass to power your workout, the possibilities are endless.

The WF-SP800N let you enjoy 360 Reality Audio, an immersive audio experience utilising object-based spatial audio technology when combined with an Android™ smartphone/iPhone that has a participating streaming services app installed[3]. The 360 Reality Audio listening experience immerses you in the music as if you are right in front of your favourite artist. Listeners can enjoy a custom immersive musical field that is perfectly optimised for each individual user when the WF-SP800N headphones and the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app[4].

 

Smart listening

Ambient Sound Mode on the WF-SP800N lets you control the sounds that you want to let in. You can also customise the ambient sound settings to your preference using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” companion app from level 0 to level 20.

The WF-SP800N now also features Advanced Adaptive Sound Control that automatically detects what you’re doing and where you are then adjusts ambient sound settings to suit your environment. You can even customise the settings as you wish using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app. Let in ambient sound while you’re running outside, reduce unwanted noise when you’re in the office and boost your bass in the gym.

 

Control at your fingertips

Smart control technology enables you to play, stop or skip through your music and adjust the volume by simply placing your finger over the right earbud. Turn down the music to hear around you by placing your finger on the left earbud. The quick attention feature turns the volume right down and lets in the ambient sound. Instantly chat with someone without removing your earbuds.

Be smarter and manage your day with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Enjoy entertainment, connect with friends, get information, listen to music and notifications, set reminders and more.

Never miss a beat with the headphones thanks to wearing detection, which automatically detects when you take the earbuds out. Pause your music instantly when you take one of the earbuds out and the music will automatically resume when you place the earbud back in again.

Select your preferred listening style when taking a hands-free call or listening to your music. Enjoy music and have fun talking with stereo sound on both earbuds or choose to use one earbud, even when the others are on charge.

Life with EXTRA BASSTM

Sony also introduced the truly wireless WF-XB700 headphones. With Sony’s EXTRA BASS™ technology, these headphones create precise, punchy rhythms that lift every track and maintain vocal clarity for a wonderfully rich, well-rounded listening experience.

BLUETOOTH® wireless technology removes the need for wired connections for ease of use while the Ergonomic Tri-hold structure creates a comfortable fit. Enjoy up to 18 hours of listening thanks to the handy charging case and, if you’re in a hurry, 10 minutes quick charging gives you up to 60 minutes of music playback.

An IPX4 rating and water resistance means protection against splashes and sweat, so you can keep moving to the music in the rain or at the gym.

 

The WF-SP800N model will be priced at approximately £150 and €220 for IE and available from July 2020 in black, white and blue.

The WF-XB700 model are priced at approximately £130 and €160 for IE and available now across Europe in black and blue.

For further information on 360 Reality Audio, visit http://www.music.com/360RA

Logicalis Ireland wins Hybrid Data Management Award. #IBM #Logicalis #Data

Logicalis Ireland, the IT solutions and managed services provider, is today announcing that it won the IBM Excellence Award in Hybrid Data Management during the first-ever virtual IBM Think conference on May 5th, 2020. IBM’s Excellence Awards recognise the stellar performance of IBM Business Partners who have demonstrated excellence and drive exceptional client experiences and business growth.

Logicalis Ireland was selected for the global Data & AI Excellence Award: Hybrid Data Management due to its extensive breadth of expertise with data networks and its ability to support clients in understanding their infrastructure requirements. Furthermore, the company has a proven track record of delivering rich data insights and advising on effective data and AI implementation for its customers – including Musgrave Group and Flutter.

Andrew Baird, Managing Director, Logicalis Ireland

Andrew Baird, Managing Director of Logicalis Ireland, said: “Data has become a valuable asset for many businesses across the globe. However, in order to leverage it effectively, companies need to have the right technology solutions.

“At Logicalis, we help customers to not only identify which areas will benefit most from their data and AI but also how its impact can support decision-making, reduce costs and enhance product or service delivery on an ongoing basis across the entire organisation. In turn, this helps companies to innovate, be more competitive and drive growth.

“We are incredibly proud to have been recognised with this award as it showcases our alignment with a strategic portfolio area within IBM and acknowledges our exceptional work in providing business value and industry success with Data and AI.

“It is testament to our ability to identify the most suitable solutions for our clients and demonstrate the impact they have for their business, supporting them throughout the process from inception to delivery. Going forward, we aim to continue delivering meaningful results within this area and enabling digital transformation for our customers.”

Logicalis Ireland was named one of 22 Business Unit Excellence Award winners. The IBM Business Unit Excellence Awards recognize IBM Business Partners that deliver stand-out results to help drive business value and transform the way clients and industries operate.

To learn more about Logicalis Ireland, visit www.ie.logicalis.com

Urbanista announce the Ubranista London True Wireless with ANC. #TrueWireless #ANC #UrbanistaLife

Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, announces the launch of Urbanista London, an active noise cancelling true wireless earphone, designed to put the listener in control. London is the latest in the brand’s true wireless headphone line-up and lives up to their tagline: ‘Designed for Life in Motion’. Boasting an in-ear style that combines secure fit and crystal clear, isolated sound with comfort, simplicity and reliability, Urbanista London allows listeners to either completely block out the outside world or hear their surroundings without interruption to their listening experience.

Priced at £129 MSRP, London is available in four stylish colours and boasts full compatibility with iOS, Android and Windows devices.

A Sound Experience That You Control

Urbanista London is designed to provide the perfect fit and is comfortable for long periods of wear. Axel Grell, an acoustical engineer who developed the sound design for Urbanista London, comments: “We have worked incredibly hard to perfect and fine tune the sound of Urbanista London. The tiny details make for an earphone with incredible clarity and natural sound reproduction with ground shaking bass and smooth highs. The micro-speakers I have selected are at the acoustical heart of these earphones. Urbanista London boasts a wide frequency range with very low distortion, an important feature especially for an active noise cancelling earphone.”

Whether you feel like blocking out the noise of a busy morning commute or would like to hear what is around you, Urbanista London puts you in control. With the new active noise cancelling (ANC) feature, at the press of a button you are able to completely switch off the outside world. Otherwise, remain conscious of your surroundings while enjoying a strong audio experience with Ambient Sound Mode. This feature enables you to switch to a voice-enhancing mode while listening to your music or podcast, allowing outside sounds in and ensuring you can hear any voices around you, loud and clear.

Urbanista believes earphones should be intelligently designed and complement the user’s lifestyle, which is why Urbanista London earbuds have a built-in ear detection technology that is programmed to pause when the sensors detect that you have taken one bud out of your ear. The music will stop playing completely when both earbuds are removed.

Inspired by the City

Urbanista London is packed with style and creativity and our earphones are inspired by the vibrant and busy city. To express your personal style, London is available at launch in Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue) and comes with a sleek and slim colour-matched charging case. London has an IPX4 waterproof rating and is therefore protected from splashing water at any angle.

Designed for Life in Motion

Staying connected is easy with London: the latest in 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity means London is compatible with your iOS, Windows or Android device and allows you to have your voice assistant available at the touch of a button. Whilst on the go, the built-in noise cancelling dual microphone allows you to make or receive stereo phone calls, adjust the volume, play and stop.

London provides a playtime of 5 hours, and with 4 additional full charges from the case, a total playtime of 25 hours. The indicator lights will let you know when you are out of charge and then you can conveniently charge your earphones in under one hour on any Qi-certified pad or via the USB Type-C cable, straight out of the box.

Anders Andreen, CEO of Urbanista, comments: “London is a truly special product and we are very excited to welcome this model to our true wireless family. The small and ergonomic design provides the perfect fit that looks great and with the active noise cancelling and ambient sound features, London is perfect for life in motion.”

Key Features of Urbanista London

  • Active noise cancelling (ANC) feature
  • Built-in ear detection sensors
  • Ambient Sound Mode
  • Wireless charging in one hour under any Qi-certified pad
  • Slim, colour matched charging case carrying 4 full charges
  •  4 indicator lights showing battery capacity
  • 25 hours playtime: each playtime runs up to 5 hours. The pocket-sized charging case is ready for another 4 full charges recharging house
  • IPX4 protected – protected from splashing water at any angle
  • Bluetooth 5.0 connection
  • USB Type-C cable
  • Silicone earbuds – different sizes available for a more personalised in-ear fit
  • Four stylish colours: Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue).
  • Volume and music control
  • Voice control (Siri and Google Assistant)
  • Stereo phone calls
  • Full iOS, Android and Windows compatibility